Advent Begins!

Advent season is already upon us and quite likely sooner than we expected! It kind of snuck up on us. Our first Sunday of Advent is November 28th. Advent is the time of expectation, anticipation, and coming - which means we anticipate, expect and celebrate the coming of the birth of Jesus Christ.

This Advent I want to look at three seasons or times which should receive our attention.

The first season is the prophetic promise from the Old Testament that a king from the household of David would come and reign over Israel forever. During the Babylonian exile of the Jews, the promise of a coming king was especially important. The Jews, in their oppression as slaves, hoped their time of exile would end and Judah would be restored. Many were looking for a saviour or messiah - the “consolation of Israel” to save them from exile. Advent is a time in which we remember the prophetic promises and longing of ancient Israel for the coming of this king. The longing and expectation of a coming Lord is captured in the wonderful hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” Listen to these words: "O come, O come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the son of God appear."

The second season surrounds the birth of Jesus – his first coming. We see the announcement from the angel to Mary that a child will be born – a savior. And we see a parallel story of Elizabeth who gives birth to John the Baptist – the one who goes before Jesus to prepare a way. Traditional hymns such as “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” by Charles Wesley share these words of fulfillment: “Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free…”. We sing the Christmas carols and we ready our hearts for the birth of Jesus Christ – our Savior and Lord.

The third season is the second coming of Christ and the day Christ comes for us in our death. This is the final emphasis of Advent. We turn our attention to the unfulfilled prophesies Christ’s own promises that He will return and usher in a new kingdom – a new heaven and new earth.
Hymns like “Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending” capture this theme. In the words of this song we hear the promise of what is to be: “Lo, he comes with clouds descending, once for favored sinners slain; thousand, thousand saints attending swell the triumph of his train. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God appears on earth to reign.” We ready our hearts and lives for the return of Jesus Christ.

In considering the past, present and future themes of Advent I am using a classic story by Charles Dickens to help lay the framework in conjunction with the scripture for the next three Sundays of Advent - A Christmas Carol. Pastor Adam Hamilton [of Church of Resurrection] did a similar sermon series in 2002 which I have reprised.

I invite you to join with us beginning November 28th as we begin Advent and explore the true meaning of Christmas – past, present and future – and what it means for us today. Please invite a friend to worship with us as we look at:
November 28th – the Ghost of Christmas Past – Isaiah 61:1-3
December 5th – The Ghost of Christmas Present – Luke 1:46-53
December 12th – the Ghost of Christmas Future – Isaiah 53:1, 4-6
December 19th – The Christmas Story – Luke 2:1-20

I would also like to encourage you to invite a friend to one of our Christmas Eve services – 4:00, 6:30 or 10:00pm, to hear a special message from one of the Wise Men, so they too may come to know the grace and love of our God through the Son, Jesus Christ.

If you can't make it to church on Sunday, please take some time to hear the messages via our website: www.miltonumc.org. Check out the Sermon Message Archive Menu option (on the left).

Peace out friends (as my 3 year old says),

Patrick